Combination carton and cup carrier



Dec. 27. 1955 Filed July 8, 1953 J. H. FARRINGTON COMBINATION CARTON AND CUP CARRIER 2 Sheets-Shea 1 1 attorney Dec. 27. 1955 J. H. FARRINGTON COMBINATION CARTON AND CUP CARRIER 2 Sheets-Shem 2 Filed July 8, 1953 lnnentor J/M/ Ewe/Nara zz/Z Gttorneg United States Pat ent COMBINATION CARTON AND CUP CARRIER John H. Farrington, Bellerose Terrace, N. Y., assignor to American Seal-Kap Corporation of Delaware, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application July 8, 1953, Serial No. 366,790

2 Claims. (Cl. 220-416) This invention relates to a combination cup carton and cup carrier and has for an object to provide a carton for a stack of paper cups or the like which can be readily converted into a carrier for dispensing purposes.

Various other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of the invention is more fully disclosed.

The invention will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof in which a specific embodiment has been set forth for purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the carton when c0nverted into a cup carrier for dispensing purposes;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are transverse sections taken on the lines 2-2, 33 and 4-4 respectively of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view, on a smaller scale, of the carton in process of being folded to form a cup carrier; and

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a blank from which the combination cup carton and carrier is formed.

Referring to the drawings more in detail the invention is shown as applied to a blank for forming an elongated carton of rectangular cross-section of the type used to package a stack of paper cups. The blank comprises top panel 1, bottom panel 3, side wall panels 2 and 4, and a narrow sealing flap 5, said panels being separated by score lines 6, 7, 8 and 9 respectively on which the blank is folded into rectangular shape. The blank is sealed in folded form by applying suitable adhesive to the sealing flap 5. Top and bottom panels 1 and 3 are provided with the usual end fiaps 10 and 11 which are adapted to be interlocked in any standard manner for closing the respective ends of the carton. Side panel 2 is provided at each end with an end closure flap 12 having a tab 13 to be pushed within the side walls of the folded carton for completing the end closure.

In order to permit the carton to be used as a carrier, the top panel 1 is provided with a plurality of circular score lines 15 which are adapted to permit the enclosed discs to be punched out manually, leaving openings 16 adapted to receive cups 17 as indicated in Figs. 1 to 4. The panels 1, 2 and 3 are provided with central transverse score lines 20, 21 and 22 and the sealing flap 5 is provided with a central transverse score lines 23, along which the walls are adapted to be broken, and the side panel 4 is provided with a central transverse score line 24 about which the panel 4 may be folded. The score lines to 24 thus divide the carton into two halves which are foldable together about the score lines 24 as indicated in Figs. 1 to 6. When so folded one of the end flaps 12 is opened as indicated in Fig. 6 and the tab 13 thereof is tucked into the adjacent end so as to hold the carton securely in folded position.

The panel 4 is provided midway of each half with a set of score lines 28, 29 and 30 which are adapted to be punched out by the user to form a handle 31, and

with a score line 32 about which the handle 31 is folded upwardly as indicated in Figs. 1 to 4. One of the handles is also provided with a score line 33 about which a flap 34 is folded to extend through the companion handle 31 for providing a finger support.

The score lines 32 are disposed in the panel 4 in a position which falls adjacent to the sealing flap 5 when the carton is assembled. Hence the panel is reinforced by the flap 5 at the base of the handle 31. The handles are of course so positioned that they are brought into engagement centrally of the folded carrier.

The openings 16 are indicated in Figs. 1 to 4 as of a size to permit the cups to extend therethrough and to rest upon the bottom wall 3 of the carrier. It is obvious, however, that the size of the openings may be such that the cups hang from the top wall 1 without resting upon the bottom wall if desired, as for example to leave more cup surface exposed for handling.

The carton is normally used for the shipment of stacks of paper cups. When it is desired to use the carton as a cup carrier however, as for dispensing drinks, the openings 16 are punched in by hand and the pressure is exerted to break the carton along score lines 20, 21, 22 and 23 so that the carton may be folded about score line 24. The handles 31 are broken out and folded upwardly and the carrier secured by pushing the flap 13 of one of the end flaps 12 into the opposite end of the folded carton.

The carton is then in the position indicated in Figs. 1 to 5 and is adapted for use as a dispensing carrier.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for purposes of illustration it is to be understood that the invention may be adapted to various uses and that changes and modifications may be made therein as will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination carton and cup carrier comprising top, bottom and side walls folded and secured together to form a carton and end flaps foldable to form end closures for the carton, said top wall having circular score lines enclosing discs to be pressed out to form openings for receiving cups, one of said side walls having a central transverse score line about which said last wall can be folded, the others of said walls having central transverse score lines to be broken to permit the two ends of the carton to be so folded together about said first score line as a hinge, one of said end flaps being positioned to be inserted within the opposite end of said carton when so folded so as to hold the two ends in folded position for use as a cup carrier, and handles formed by score lines and crease lines midway in each half of said first side wall, said crease lines being spaced from the edge of said side wall to form a hinge about which said handles are folded together upwardly to form a two ply carrying handle.

2. A combination carton and cup carrier comprising top, bottom and side walls folded and secured together to form a carton and end flaps foldable to form end closures for the carton, said top wall having circular score lines enclosing discs to be pressed out to form openings for receiving cups, one of said side walls having a central transverse score line about which said last wall can be folded, the others of said walls having central transverse score lines to be broken to permit the two ends of the carton to be so folded together about said first score line as a hinge, one of said end flaps being positioned to be inserted within the opposite end of said carton when so folded so as to hold the two ends in folded position for use as a cup carrier, handles formed by score lines midway in each half of said first side wall and adapted to be folded together upwardly to form a carrying handle,

Patented Dec. 21, 1955 said carton being formed from a blank and having a V References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,176,932 Smith a Mar. 28, 1916 Morris May 31, 1927 Istwan .1 June 12, 1951 Holy Mar. 3, 1953 

